Note to my editor:

It's the same for my other story, I wanna use the DocX instead of emailing for convenience. It's difficult to keep paragraphs properly spaced and such as well as the quotes in conversations otherwise. So as soon as you establish a connection on DocX, I'll send you the chapter drafts. Thank you for your understanding;)


I trailed after him outside, noticing how nice the weather was today. There was a few people in shorts and tank tops headed to the beach with huge sunglasses and coolers to last a month. A couple of clouds drifted past, blocking some of the sun's merciless rays.

Naruto shuffled his feet along the sidewalk, deep in thought. I wanted to say something, but what? So, I just followed along quietly..waiting for him to break the silence between us.

The moment finally came when we were two blocks away from the apartment.

"Sorry about the eavesdropping." His eyes stayed transfixed on a parked truck in front of us as he leaned against the wall of the drugstore we stopped at.

"Hn. It's okay." I shifted awkwardly, trying to find my own object to stare at. I picked the "No Loitering" sign that loomed over Naruto's head.

"I asked you to come with me 'cause I'm feeling kinda guilty about it. I mean, I grew up with Kakashi since my folks never around. I ended up spending nights over at his place and stuff. My dad came up to me one day and was all, 'Hey, your mom and I have been thinking and we believe it's best you just stay with Kakashi now. We're having some.. marriage problems.'". He glanced over at me once, then back at the blue gas-sucker.

"Sounds pretty bad.." I found myself mumbling.

"Not as bad as you, though. I'm actually lucky. They just subtly kicked my ass to the curb. Yours seemed to just kick your ass." Even though the comment was a bit harsh, I ended up laughing.

He looked at me, a little surprised that I found his comment funny. I guess he didn't mean to say it, judging by his expression.

"Let's go get some drinks." I shot him a crazed look. After what happened last time I had a drink or two, I definitely don't wanna take a walk down Memory Lane.

"Not alcohol, sodas or something. Dude, I'm not that retarded." He stuck his tongue out at me and marched into the store. The whole time we were in there, I couldn't stop thinking about his mouth.

We left after we bought two bottles of flavored water. Again, we were back on the streets. But this time, the awkwardness had passed and we were walking side by side down the sidewalk.

"It still bothers me a lot, but it helped to finally tell someone and have them actually believe me." I explained.

"I can imagine. I think I would've killed myself or my parents by now if I were in your position."

"Yeah.."

"Well, now that we've passed some heart-to-heart secrets, it seems appropriate to let you in on another secret of mine." We kept walking and I grew curious as to what his secret was. But I was mostly flattered and giddy that he had chosen me to confide in.

"I don't really think there's an easy way to bring it up, so I'll just say it. I'm gay." He turned and gave me a perky smile. Before I could even utter an 'Oh', he started talking again.

"Well, it's not really a secret, since everyone knows. I'm surprised Kakashi didn't tell you yet. Or Sakura. Geez, the fact that she didn't tell you is super weird. She talks almost as much as me!" He threw his arms up dramatically.

I nodded, since I had a clue as to why she chose to keep this bit of information away from me. But then it hit me. She is suspicious of my sexuality, so she probably didn't want to bring up Naruto's.. Especially after that elevator incident that lead to her first set of questions. God, that was weird.

"Sasuke? Hey, you okay? Don't tell me you're a homophobe or something." My head snapped to his direction with wide eyes.

"No no no! Of course not! Sorry, I was just spacing out. Really."

He shrugged and grinned at me, his hand on my shoulder. "Hey, if it really does bother you, I promise not to make out with a guy in front of you." I gave him the same lopsided grin.

We walked a few more blocks talking about nothing in particular except Kakashi's random hours on dates and stuff. When our bottles were empty to the last drop, he grabbed them and tossed both into a dumpster next to a restaurant on the corner.

I kept walking, but stopped when I noticed he wasn't with me. I turned around and saw him croutching down, staring at the curb below his toes. When I got closer, I noticed he was staring into the gutter.

"What are you looking at?" I asked, mimicking his actions and also got down to take a look.

He pointed at a lone penny sitting dangerously on the edge of the cement, daring to fall into the sewer. "That penny should be in someone's wallet or in a register. I mean, that's what they're made, right? It's a pity that it got shoved to the side like this, left to fall down into the sewer. A waste, really."

I looked up from the lost penny and stared at him as he continued to watch it. A small smile rested at his lips. His voice picked up again and I looked back into the gutter. If someone was watching us, I'm sure they'd think we were high or something. That or homeless.

"It can't be too happy either, being where it is. I think it needs some help, to get where it really belongs." He reached down and picked up the penny before turning to me with a foxy smile spread along his sun-kissed face.

"You can have it. You guys seem to have a lot in common." He dropped it in my palm and got up, signaling that we were gonna walk again. He was still ahead of me, since I was walking behind, staring at the penny in my hand now.

A small car honking its horn caught my attention and I noticed it was Sakura driving next to me. "We need to talk later. I'm well rested now, as are you. I'll pick you up for dinner tonight." Before I could say anything, like, oh, I don't know... No, maybe? She drove off. Naruto didn't even notice. Wow.

I remember when I was laying on the sofa and she had come to help me.

She let out a sigh and gave me a lopsided smile. "Just get well soon." She checked the bandage on my forehead before getting up.

She was walking for the door and suddenly stopped in her tracks. "I'll be back to further question your sexuality after I get some rest." And she left.

Man, she was dead serious about this. Joy.. She couldn't force me to go and if I stayed with Naruto, she'd never find me.

"Shit Sasuke, come on! I just realized I'm late for my interview!! Hurry!" He started to dash down the sidewalk, forcing me to speed up as well.

I'm pretty fit, so it wasn't hard. But my legs were a little stiff, so it took a few minutes for them to loosen. Soon enough I was running along side him, racing to his car. "Get in!" He yelled frantically as he threw himself into the front seat.

"I'm going with you?" I asked while he fumbled with the keys.

"I'm not gonna leave you here alone, you've spent too much time indoors." The screech of the tires filled the air as we ripped out of the residential parking lot. And hit a bush.

"What interview?" I squeaked, realizing I had been holding my breath.

"I need a job to pay for my rent and shit, so I want to work at T.B.I. Alive." His driving was seriously making me sweat.

"Uhm, what's T.B.I. Alive?"

"A weirdo cafe. The pay is pretty decent, and the work isn't heavy." My head almost hit the window as he made a sharp left turn at about sixty miles per hour.

"What made you suddenly remember the interview?"

"I saw a pot hole in the road."

"...Okay.." We suddenly stopped in front of a small strip of shops.

"Alright, there it is! Come on!" He practically fell out of the car, so anxious to meet the given time for his interview. Maybe he should apply for a job as a stunt double or something..

I followed him to the corner shop, but at a sane pace. When I reached the door, the first thing I heard was him scream "WHAT!?".

"What do you mean I'm a FREAKING DAY EARLY!!" His voice carried probably through the walls to the neighboring businesses.

He somewhat collected himself and apologized quietly to the stunned cashier and sheepishly walked out with me in tow by the arm. When we were standing by the car, he ruffled his hair and sighed.

"I'm officially flabbergasted. I'm pretty sure that word doesn't fit the situation, but it sounds like how I'm feeling anyways." I nodded, sort of understanding him.

"It'll be okay." I tried comforting him.

"Yeah, I just feel bad about dragging you out here and driving all suicidal." Again, he scratched his head. This time he let out a nervous laugh to compliment it as well.

"I'm alive." I said dryly.

"Hold on, I got a text." He pulled out his cheerfully beeping phone and read the incoming message. "Uh, Sakura says she wants to take you on a private tour of local apartments so you can find a place." He seemed a bit surprised and confused by this request.

I wanted to decline the offer, but Naruto would want an explanation and I myself don't really know what I'm doing or the answers to the questions Sakura was really gonna ask me.

"Tell her I'm on the way.."


Review, review, review!

hmm... sakura's confrontation.. will she get answers? and if she does, will they be true? and what about kakashi and naruto? what has kakashi been up to and will naruto get the job? i know, it's so suspenseful, lol.

Oh, and on a serious note:

I just posted a one-shot called His World. It's a sasusaku, it honestly has NOTHING AT ALL to do with them. It's 400 words and truly just a message I want everyone to read and be aware of. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE read it I'm not asking you to review it even. Just read it. Once you read it, it'll make sense and I'm asking you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you all.

happy unbirthday

--frumpyrox